Whiffletree



(N0 Medal.)

C. S. WELLS,

WHIFFLET REE.

Patented Sept. 12, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. WELLS, OF HERRIOKVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

WHIFFLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,822, datedSeptember 12, 1898.

Application filed May 26, 1893.

T0 or whom it may concern.-

1 3e it known that 1, CHARLES S. WELLS, a c tizen of the United States,residing at Herrickville, in the county of Bradford and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Whifidetree, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to whifiietrees, and

has for its object to improve devices of this class by making the sameof three pieces of steel put together in such shape as to brace againsteach other so that one piece cannot become broken without breaking allof the pieces, and the device is so arranged that it is nterchangeablefrom one device to another and is provided with a yielding center-boltthat acts as a swivel. With these and other objects in view, theinvention consists of the construction and arrangement of the partsthereof as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvedWhittle-tree. Fig. 2 is a section on the line :c-m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection on the line yy, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view ofthedevice.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a centrally-locatedsteel bar, that is projected at its center toward the front and has itsends deflected toward the rear. In rear of the said bar 1 is a pair ofsteel bars 2, that are spaced apart from each other vertically andarranged parallel, the space between the said bars being greater at thecenter and from thence said bars converge toward each other and embracethe outer ends of the bar 1, the latter standing centrally of the twobars 2 and shaping therewith a triangle. The bars 2 are projectedrearward a greater distance at their centers and extend forwardly attheir ends, and the outer ends of the said bars 1 and 2 are securedtogether by malleable metal end-sockets 3, each of which has a pair ofholes at therein to adj ustably receive a clevis or link 5, to therebyprovide for adjusting of the said clevis or link to give one horse anad- Serial No. 475,602. (NomodeL) vantage over another, if necessary.Over the central part of the two rear bars and the front bar is mountedand secured a pair of V-shaped tie-braces 6, that are bent around thebar 1 and terminate on opposide sides of the bars 2. The said braces 6are spaced apart, and between the same and the said bars 1 and 2 ismounted a coiled spring 7, having a washer 8 against the rear endthereof that abuts against a stop-plate 9, bent over and held on thebars 2, the said stop-plate having an opening therein through which ispassed a bolt 10, and extended through the washer 8 and the central partof the spring 7. The outer end of the said bolt 10 is formed or rovidedwith a square head 11, that rests against a washer 12, placed againstthe outer end of the spring and normally forced against the inner edgeof the front bar 1; and it will thus be seen that the said spring 7 isconfined between the bars 1 and 2, and has at its rear end bearing uponthe stop-plate 9, that is disposed vertically. The rear end of the bolt10 is bifurcated, as at 13, and provided with a removable bolt 14,which, as shown, has a hook 15 movably connected thereto. The bifurcatedend of the bolt, together with the mounting of the bolt in the spring inthe manner set forth, provides a yielding or spring swivel, and it willbe understood that the hook can be removed from the bifurcated end ofthe bolt and the latter connected di rectly to a plow, the tongue of awagon, or elsewhere, as may be found desirable. Covering the bottom ofthe central portion of the bars 1 and 2 is a wear-plate 16, of iron orother suitable metal, to shield the spring and keep the same fromwearing out when drawn upon the ground, or to prevent breakage of thespring when dropping the whiffletree upon the ground.

One important advantage of the device is the yielding nature of the bolt10, as the load is constantly balanced on a spring, which would take allthe jar from the shoulders of the horses with evident advantages.

The device is simple and effective in its nature and exceptionallystrong and durable; and it is obviously apparent that changes in theform, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resortedto without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of theadvantages of this invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Inawhiftietree, the combination of three trian gularly-arrang ed bars, twobeinglocated at the back and one in front in the central plane of thesaid back bars, metallic sockets receiving and connecting the outer endsof said bars and provided with holes to adj ustably receive a clevis orlink, a bolt loosely mounted on the bars and extending rearwardly fromthem, a hook pivoted to the rear end of the bolt, and a cushioningspring intel-posed between the front end of the bolt and the back of thewhiffletree, substantially as described.

2. Inawhiffletree, the combination of three triangularly-arranged bars,two being located at the back and one in front in the central plane ofthe said back bars, outer end sockets connecting said bars having linksor clevises attached thereto, a pair of V-shaped tiebraces passing overthe front single bar and terminating at the rear back bars, saidtiebraces being spaced apart from each other, and a central attachingbolt, substantially as described.

3. In a whiftletree, the combination of triangularly-arranged bars, twobeing located at the back and one in front in the central plane of saidbars, a pair of V-shaped tie braces passing over the central portions ofsaid bars, a spring-encircled bolt mounted between said bars and bracesand having a rear projecting bifurcated end, a verticallydisposedstop-plate against which the rear part of said spring rests, said bolthaving a front angular head bearing against a washer placed against thefront of said spring, and a bolt removably mounted in said bifurcatedend of the aforesaid bolt, substantially as described.

4. In a whiffletree, the combination of hi angularly-arranged barshaving a centrallypositioned bolt surrounded by acoiled spring, a pairof tie-braces connecting said bars at the center and spaced apart, and awearplate secured over the bottom of the said bars and attached to thesaid braces to shield the spring, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES S. WELLS.

WVitnesses:

D. H. PLATT, W. H. SIMPsoN.

